Curing of tobacco



Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE WILLIAM A. PIKE, HUTCHISON M. PIKE, AND WILLIAM T. HENRY, OF SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE CURING F TOBACCO No Drawing.

This invention relates to the curing of tobacco and the object is to obtain the desired colour and flavour, while drying the tobacco, by means of hanging the tobacco in suitable enclosures over combustible material, such as wood, over which a tarry substance embodying creosote, lignin and acetic acid has been poured, the fumes from the tarry substance and the heat from the combustible material combining to dry, colour and flavour the leaves in such a manner as to consequently increase the quality and market value of the tobacco so treated.

Few trees provide raw material from which the tarry substance that we desire may be obtained, the principal ones employed being oak, hickory, beech, birch,

maple and others of the broad-leaf trees,

commonly called hardwoods, or the Scots pine, long-leaf pine, Norway pine and others of the needle-leaf, commonly called softwoods. In the curing of tobacco, as outlined in this application, we prefer to use a tarry substance embodying creosote, lignin and acetic acid obtained from the hardwoods, although we do not wish to be limited entirely to hardwoods.

The tobacco is cut and suitably hung up in a barn or other such enclosure. The combustible material, such as wood, may be placed in rows or placed at convenient places under the tobacco. The tarry substance may be poured directly upon the combustible material or mixed with sawdust, so that it may be conveniently distributed over the combustible material. The combustible material is then lit and allowed to burn slowly. During this burning, the tarry substance is heated and the heat, with the fumes from the tarry substance, will envelope the tobacco hung thereover in the enclosure. In carrying out this cure, it is only necessary to provide a light, slow burning of the combustible material, so that the sap or moisture in the tobaccoleaves will not be quickly dried up and expelled owing to excessive and too rapid a cure. The tarry substance fumigations become absorbed into the fibre and substance of the tobacco leaves. The heat opens the pores of the to- Application filed November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,770.

bacco leaves and slowly drives out any sap or moisture which may be in the tobacco, leaving the colour and fiavourobtained from the united fumes of the creosote, lignin and acetic acid thoroughly and evenly impregnated throughout the tobacco leaves.

It may be desirous to use trays or pans for holding the tarry substance and heating the same by. means of electric or combustion stoves or by indirect heat conveyed to the trays or pans by suitable piping or conduits.

The curing of tobacco in this manner provides a simultaneous effect on all parts of the tobacco leaves throughout the enclosure and avoids blotching, commonly occasioned in other methods. Thus, by ourmethod of curing, we obtain the desired uniform colour and flavour, which is sought for by the dealers and which consequently increases the quality and market value of the tobacco so' treated. This method of curing the tobacco may also be applied for recuring tobacco which has been cured by some other method.

The tarry substance referred to in this application and which embodies creosote, lignin and acetic acid may be obtained from the raw material (preferably hardward) in any desired manner or it may be made as a commercial compound by mixing creosote, lignin and acetic acid together.

The foregoing specification discloses the preferred embodiment of our.invention, but it is to be understood that minor changes may be resorted to in the commercial adaption of our invention without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What we claim as new is:

The process of curing tobacco, which consists in subjecting the newly cut leaves to heat sufficient to expand the sap therein and commingling with said heat fumes from a tarry substance embodying the properties of creosote, lignin and acetic acid, commingling the fumes with the sap, thus causing an entire impregnation of the fumes throughout the leaf body before the sap is evaporated therefrom, and continuing the subjection of the tobacco to heat until thoroughly dried.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM A. PIKE.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

HUTCHISON M. PIKE.

Y In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature,

WILLIAM T; HENRY. 

